Kalispell – Westbound

  • July 18, 2012

Kalispell is Eau Claire, Wisconsin musician Shane Leonard and his first full-length Westbound is a wonder to behold. This self-released and produced collection of folk songs was a six year effort, with Leonard writing, rewriting, changing and finessing the works as he settled in and out of locations and fell in and out of love, all the while seeking to learn traditional Appalachian techniques from the dying masters. With backing from Ben Lester (AA Bondy, S. Carey), Kevin Rowe (The Barley Jacks), Leonard creates an atmosphere of beguiling old-timey sounds that carry well beyond simple fingerpicking. Armed with instrumentation that includes clawhammer banjo, pedal steel guitar, fiddle, harmonica, organ (and even a string quartet), Leonard breathes life into these intimate stories. Westbound is one of the best releases of 2012 standouts among the eight tracks and interlude include “Lucky a Hundred Times”, “Sepia Ghost”, “Marion, MT.” – Written by JFelton

SIMILAR | Bear In Heaven, Lower Dens, Lotus Plaza, Daniel Rossen, Luke Temple, Young Magic